The Duchess appeared stunned into silence. Of all the responses she had expected from Damian, asking who she was wasn't a part. But then again, it was only normal he didn't know her. In fact, she would only be suspicious if he knew who she was.
That said, the current her however, wasn't in the mood to entertain his questions. The more her eyes took in the corpses of her once loyal comrades, the more her rage seems to overboil. She couldn't wait to tear him from limbs to limbs.
"Who I am doesn't matter currently. The only thing you have to know is that I am the Duchess of the Draconian Duchy and master of the men you have just killed."
Damian frowned again.
'Duchess? The System didn't say anything about a Duchess of the Draconian Duchy. Or…could she be the wife of the Duke?... That could be plausible. But what sort of husband sends his own wife out to battle while he relaxes?'
Damian's frown deepened before he looked at the Duchess again, opening his mouth to speak.
"Lady. You can't really blame me for this. Your men targeted me first, hence, I did what I thought was valid. Cut them off my trail."
Damian's voice came out slow and unhurried. It sounded as though he was unbothered by his actions, as though he was unmoved by the rage of the lady before him.
And indeed, he was unbothered.
In truth, Damian could have just knocked them unconscious instead of killing them. He had more than enough power to do that. However, there was a reason he hadn't taken that approach and instead killed them directly.
He wanted to, no, he needed to force the Duke out of his nest. Although, he was powerful, even he wouldn't be so foolish as to attack someone in their turf. Especially when said turf is a place equipped with modern fortifications.
In spite of all the breakthroughs and evolutions he had undergone, he still wouldn't survive a shell. No, that was going too far. He wouldn't even survive a shot from light-weighted weapons.
And there was the fact that the short battle had aided him in his comprehension of Sabre Edict. Although, Damian felt he could have grasp it anytime he wanted. It was just a matter of when, not how.
However, it appeared even his actions were all for naught. The wife of the Duke had been the one to come here, or so he thought. Even then, he didn't regret his actions. Anyone who intended to stand in his way only needed to taste his blade.
"Is that so?... I see. Say, you don't mind if I do the same right?" The Duchess's voice was especially innocent, contrasting sharply to the murderous intentions that practically wafted off her body in waves.
Damian chuckled before placing his blade on his shoulder. He pointed at the Duchess before speaking out.
"You are welcome for try."
His voice had barely landed when he felt a shiver down his spine, his eyes constricting into pinholes.
'Fast!'
The Duchess was already upon him. She had been so fast he couldn't even register the moment she took a step.
He could only utter a grunt before a heaviness the likes of which he had only felt once in his life, crashed into his gut.
His body blasted through the air, a line of his own blood trailing after him. He flailed in the air, trying failingly to get a grip of himself.
Unfortunately, it was just that the Duchess didn't seem to give him any reprieve. She appeared right below him, her fist glowing a dark-gold color that felt especially alive and heavy, before she launched said fist upwards towards the back of Damian.
A geyser of blood exploded from Damian's mouth as he got lurched higher into the air, his mind blanking for a split moment. A moment later though, a silhouette blotted out the sun from his view. He could only make out the smooth legs of the Duchess before he felt the wind knocked out of him.
A cloud of dust arose as Damian's body hit the ground at supersonic speed, said ground giving out from the force at which he plunged into it.
Damian groaned. He hadn't felt the pain he was currently feeling since the times his mother placed him under rigorous training. As such, he was especially accustomed to such a feeling.
It was also for this reason it almost felt as though all the bones in his body had shattered, yet he was sure they were as intact as the day he was born.
Even then, he felt his head spin, his mind sinking into a blankness that gave his thoughts no leeway. The pain was truly too much. However, he wouldn't let that stop him for even a moment, as he had no doubt that the Duchess was just beginning. He needed to stand.
As though to prove his thoughts, a small fist appeared right above him. It was small and dainty and looked harmless, but the dark-golden Edict it was covered in was anything but.
Damian only had the time to shift his whole body to his right side, before the fist landed.
BOOM!
The ground caved in under the pressure of such an attack, a fifteen-meter radius crater appearing in place of the once smooth floor.
By then, Damian was already on his feet, his Light Saber never once leaving his grip. It shone an intense silver light that radiated a sharpness that would blind the eyes of any normal creature.
However, the Duchess was no normal creature. She looked at the silver light and then snorted. Her fist glowed an intense dark-golden light, before she punched out.
Upon seeing this, Damian frowned.
'This Edict. Why does it feel so familiar? But more importantly… why do I feel so attracted to it?'
Unfortunately, Damian couldn't dwell in his thoughts, because an immense danger was rapidly approaching.
The air seem to grow heavier from the Duchess's punch, an untold pressure bearing down on all as the dark-gold Edict made its way towards Damian.
Damian brandished his weapon, a sharp silver light radiating from its blade before he sent out a slash.
BOOM!
The very air grew turbulent, the ground splintered, and the trees all around strained against their roots.
And as expected, Damian couldn't hold a candle to such an attack. His body shot out like a kite with loose strings, careening through the air uncontrollably.
The Duchess lunged once more, already upon Damian even before he could land. She grabbed his right leg, and flung him towards the ground with a strength disproportionate to her lithe body.
However, she didn't end it there. She sat on his torso, and raised her fist a little higher than usual, the fist glowing a dangerous dark-golden light. And then, she began pummeling his face.
At this point, it was evident that the Duchess was simply on another level compared to the Draconians Damian had killed. She was still in the First Sphere, he could sense it. However, the odd and strangely familiar dark-gold Edict she was wielding made her as strong as anyone in the Second Sphere.
Damian sighed, although that was hardly discernible through the rain of curses and punches that was rapidly mangling his face.
"Bloody bastard! You would pay for killing them! Die! Die! Die! Die!"
With the destination the current situation was approaching, wasn't his death set in stone? But, he was unwilling! He hadn't even explored Earth, let alone the wonders and dangers of the cosmos he was dreaming of experiencing, how could he possibly die in a mere First Sphere World?
He sighed once again, before wading through the bouts of pain that were being shipped into his brain to focus on the red ring on his right hand.
His Soul Edict flourished and a familiar handgun appeared in his hand. He raised it weakly towards the Duchess and pulled the trigger.
But…
It was just a little unfortunate that his Edict was down the drain at that moment. Damian despaired.